#toxicant

⟡ toxicant...

a term for presenting as venenine.

TOXICANT is a freaky rogue-lite survival horror game where you run, hide and fight for your life in a labyrinthine underground mine system.

 Plenty of alchemists brew and use poisons. It is, after all, part of that darker side of alchemy. However, very few actually make themselves poisonous outside of certain discoveries.

The toxicant, however, does just that, concocting a brew that turns their skin into a factory of toxins, making themselves not unlike the infamous poison dart frog or any number of creatures that are known for being deadly to even touch.

Indeed, these alchemists may be fascinated by such creatures, or otherwise seek to emulate them. Either way, their foes always come to regret fighting them.

 With a special concoction, these alchemists can imbue their skin with a poisonous secretion, harming all those that touch them, though they can temporarily suppress it when needed. What’s more, they can fine-tune the toxin to not just harm, but also inflict several different debilitating conditions as well. With a bit of focus it can even be used aggressively, the alchemist touching foes to inflict harm.

Additionally, toxicants can also metabolize poisons they swallow in order to secret them through their skin as well, inflicting those specific effects.

Though a simple archetype, there is a lot of potential to synergize their poisonous secretions with various discoveries and feats, making them deadly poisoners. The fact that they primarily use this ability in reaction to being attacks means there is a good precedent for making a tanky alchemist that punishes foes that come at them in melee. However, there are plenty of poison-immune foes out there, so don’t neglect your other options. Also remember that you can re-take mutagen thanks to a discovery, so that could add back some tanky quality as well.

 I can see several possible reasons why someone would delve into research like this. Perhaps they are biologists studying poisonous plants or animals? Perhaps they are a soldier seeking a new way to fight? Perhaps some trauma in their past makes them wish to punish anyone who dares touch them again?

  Mendek’s Irregulars certainly live up to their name, the squadron being made up of misfits and strange figures that wouldn’t be out of place in an eccentric adventuring company. One such member is a trox who goes by the name Ladybird, after the pungent, nauseating toxins that weep from between his chitinous plates when he uses his strange concoctions.

 Though they are simple animals, Dr. Baertrov is fascinated by jellyfish, and how their mere touch is both a hunting tool and a deterrent. He’s even developed concoctions that mimic their toxic touch, and can even briefly paralyze with pain.